Committee on Standards in Public Life

Baroness Amos: My right honourable friend the Prime Minister has today announced the appointment of Alun Michael JP MP to the Committee on Standards in Public Life.
	Alun Michael MP takes up appointment as the Labour Party nominee in succession to the right honourable Baroness Jay of Paddington. His appointment was effective from 1 October 2006 and is for three years in the first instance.
	We would like to thank Baroness Jay for her significant contribution to the work of the committee.

Compensation Agency for Northern Ireland: Corporate and Business Plans

Lord Rooker: My honourable friend the Minister of State for Northern Ireland (David Hanson) has made the following Ministerial Statement.
	I am pleased to announce the publication of the Compensation Agency corporate plan for the period 2006-09 and business plan for 2006-07. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

House of Lords: Peers' Expenses

Lord Brabazon of Tara: The resolution of the House of 20 July 1994 provided for the limits of the subsistence and office cost allowances to be uprated annually on 1 August in line with the increase in the retail prices index over the previous 12 months to July.
	Accordingly, the limits within which Lords may be reimbursed expenses incurred were increased with effect from 1 August 2006. The new limits are now as follows (the limits previously applicable are shown in brackets).
	
		
			 Overnight subsistence £159.50 (£154.50) 
			 Day subsistence £79.50 (£77) 
			 Office costs £69.00 (£67) 
			 Office costs for non-sitting periods £2,760.00 (£2,680) 
			  40 days @ £69 (£67)

Minimum Wage

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Jim Fitzpatrick) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	I am pleased to announce that the Government wrote to the Low Pay Commission on 22 September setting out our non-economic evidence on the national minimum wage.
	The evidence outlines the Government's view on the following issues:
	accommodation offset;
	enforcement;
	publicity and awareness;
	particular groups of workers and related government issues; and
	bank holidays.
	The evidence has been placed in the Libraries of the House and will also be available on my department's website at www.dti.gov.uk.